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January 31, 2008
Harmony
Having the stress of recruiting out of the way gives me a great sense of accomplishment and pride, but at the same time brings a strange feeling of emptiness. It seems like 50% of my time and 80% of my mental strain came from recruiting and now that it’s done I always feel like I am forgetting something that I should be doing. It’s kind of like a recurring dream I used to have right after I graduated from college. I got to the end of the semester and then realized that I had registered for a class and forgot to go for the entire term. It’s weird, but I’ll get over it. Now that I have all this time on my hands I have been dedicating myself a lot more to my classes. I had to depend on a lot of team members when I was in the crux of recruiting, and to some extent, now I am returning the favor to those that are still recruiting. I also joined a gym, and am trying to lose all the weight I gained from the late nights eating pizza and doing mock interviews.
Other exciting news that came out this week was MAP assignments. I will be doing mine at a Business Process Outsourcing company called Genpact. The project involves market analysis and strategic planning. It wasn’t my first choice, but I am sure that it will be a great experience and I am excited to engage in that project next quarter.
More recruiting news is that last week I attended JPMorgan’s placement day in New York and it was very exciting. On Thursday we had a wonderful dinner at the Harmonie club in NY with several Associates, VPs, EDs, and MDs and even got a pep talk from Douglas Braunstein, JPMorgan’s head of Investment Banking. I got to interact with several future colleagues in an informal atmosphere and met some great people. On Firday, we had placement day and met with our 3 top group preferences, as well as attended panels with associates and senior leadership. Yesterday I heard back from the JPMorgan recruiter and found out that I was placed in the Technology, Media and Telecom Group in San Francisco, my top choice!
Everything seems to be falling into place and as I look back on my experience so far, I couldn’t be happier with the decisions I made, of getting an MBA, of Joining Ross and recruiting for investment banking.
Posted by jtlynch at 09:59 AM | Comments (0)
January 28, 2008
MAP Time!
Belgium & U.K. here we come...
It is hard to describe the tension in the air Wednesday around 5:00 PM when the MAP projects were seconds away from being announced. It was definitely an unusual site walking through the lobby that afternoon and seeing the room completely packed and at the same time completely quiet. Everyone had their eyes glued on their laptop screens (yes, everyone had their own laptops out) pressing the refresh button on their browser waiting for the teams to be published. Around 5:04, while waiting for the general HLBSA meeting to start somebody yelled, “They’re published”…
In the aftermath of what became an exciting couple of minutes, everyone was on iMpact (the internal B-School intranet) looking up their team members and reading over the details of the assigned project.
The whole MAP-picking process is a really interesting one. First, you receive an e-mail from the school saying that all the projects are posted. I saw the e-mail over Christmas and spent a couple of hours going over the general list and trying to see which projects really interested me. The list was over 100 unique projects, ranging in industries, functional areas and geographies. By January, everyone had to narrow down their list to 10 project (including at least 3 domestic). Ranked in order or preference, you submitted your list through the MAP website and held your breath for one week. I ranked a project in South Africa for a Non-profit arm of Microsoft, which I lament to say I did not get. The exact workings of the algorithm that the MAP office uses is unclear to me because a friend of mine from Venezuela listed the same top 5 projects as me (both of us ranking Microsoft’s South African project #1) and he got it and I didn’t. I got my #2 choice!!!!!! Which I have to admit is really just as good and interesting. Our team will help develop a 5-year market growth plan for genuine Cummins factory-remanufactured components and engines to serve Cummins-powered customers in the European Union. As part of our project the team will travel to Belgium, the U.K. and possibly other areas in Europe to meet with distributors and Cummins marketing teams. I am sure we will have a great time and probably learn stuff that is almost impossible to teach in a classroom. The MAP project was a big deciding factor for me to come to Ann Arbor, so I am expecting a lot from this experience and from the looks of it (at least so far) there is no sign that I will be disappointed!
I’ll also take a quick second to wish all my fellow classmates good luck on their projects, especially the guys going to South Africa! hahahah
Posted by jolaiz at 01:19 AM | Comments (0)
January 22, 2008
Recruiting!
Recruiting season is here! It’s so funny to actually live in the moment that I heard so much about prior to starting business school. Interviews started last week for many students, so for the past week I’ve seen many ‘suits’ around campus. In a moment we will probably start looking the same. So far, I’ve had two interviews. The first was really tough and the one today was actually a lot better. The interview was basically a conversation. We talked a lot about my interests, long-term goals, etc. I seem to answer those type of questions so much easier than the “Tell me about a time” questions.
In total this week I have three interviews and it is the same next week. Recruiting has kept me incredibly busy with all of the company research and mock interviews. I think I’ve been on about 10 mock interviews so far with help from MBA2s and my peers. I also spend close to 10 hours researching each company. However, I can definitely say that it’s worth it. There is no better feeling than to sit in an interview and know what you are talking about when asked what you can do to improve a product. I have actually enjoyed researching the companies as well. Overall, many of the students, self included are stressed about the internship recruitment process. We all want to do extremely well and I know that we will it’s just that we have to deal with this moment of uncertainty right now.
Outside of recruiting and planning for the BBSA conference I rarely have time for classes. The good thing is that my classes are based on readings, which I can do at anytime. Also, all of my groups for the classes this term are self-selected, which is a change from last term’s mandatory groups. I’m working with a few section-mates who I haven’t worked with before, so it’s refreshing and a good exercise in teamwork.
I participated in the Ross Leadership Crisis Challenge during the first week of school. Our team assignment was to respond to a critical situation facing a company. We were judged based on our decision and the presentation of our decision to a ‘mock’ press team. Even though my team didn’t advance to the final round, it was an enjoyable experience and I learned a lot about how to act under stress. We also received great feedback on our presentation style from a communications coach.
MAP selections come out tomorrow and I am a tad bit anxious. My top 10 choices were all great so I will be happy with whatever I am assigned. Also, I recently found out that I was accepted into a three week program this summer in Germany prior to beginning my summer internship. This should be a neat program and I am excited about it.
Well that’s it for this post. I will be back with more updates on recruiting, MAP, and other stuff in the next couple of weeks.
Posted by alantria at 10:12 PM | Comments (0)
January 21, 2008
Best Week Ever...
After six grueling months of Investment banking recruiting, countless trips all over the country, several sleepless nights spent catching up on school work, and over 15 mock interviews: I HAVE A JOB!!! Yes interview week was very good to me and I will be joining JPMorgan’s summer associate class over the summer. Although the recruiting process itself took several months, after the interviews actually start, the process moves at an impressive speed. I had my first round interview on the 15th at 8 am, got called for second rounds at 6 pm, did my second rounds at 7:30 pm and then got a call and an offer at 12:02 am. The interviews were pretty tough, but the several mock interviews I had with MBA2’s and my classmates really helped in my preparation.
Since JPMorgan was my first choice, I canceled all my other interviews to make room for others. I spent the rest of the week celebrating and pinching myself. On the 24th I will be going to New York to meet different groups and find out what my placement will be for the summer. I want to join the Technology, Media and Telecom coverage group either in New York or San Francisco. I still have to make a few decisions about where I want to be for summer, and hopefully full time after I graduate. Given the current state of the US economy, I feel very fortunate to have a banking job and will work as hard as I can to secure a fulltime offer.
Other exciting news is that MAP assignments come out on the 23rd. There were some great projects this year, and I am sure that wherever I end up I will have a great experience. We have to rank our top ten choices out of the 100 or so projects available. I had a tough time trying to choose just ten, and will be happy with an assignment to any of the projects in my top ten.
The excitement never ends!!!
Posted by jtlynch at 10:22 AM | Comments (0)
January 13, 2008
The Circus that is Recruiting
The winter semester has kicked into high gear, and it’s only the start of the 2nd week. The bankers have their interviews this week, and the consultants this week and next. Some of the Consumer Product Goods interviews are also this week, so it’s somewhat fun to witness the circus. Most of my interviews are next week, so I’m sure this time next week I won’t be in such a relaxed mood.
I’ve had several mock interviews since October with second year MBA’s and with some recent alum representing their companies, so I feel almost ready. It’s probably one of those things where you can’t ever be fully prepared. I definitely feel that this whole process is as much of an art as it is a regimented process. Alas, as the saying goes, luck comes to those who are prepared.
My classes are a let-down so far this semester. It may be the fact that they’re following exceptionally good classes last term and that recruiting has taken over everyone’s priority. All my groups for the classes this term are self-selected, that means I get to pick who I work with, which is a nice change from last term’s mandatory groups. I’m working with a few section-mates who I haven’t worked with before, so it’s refreshing and a good exercise in teamwork.
This past Thursday I was a part of a Leadership Crisis Challenge (LCC), a 24-hour case competition that pitted two teams from each section against each other in a crisis situation. Each of the teams got the case at 6PM and had until midnight to turn in the deliverable, and then prepare for a press conference the next morning. Though my team didn’t advance to the final round, we had a great time working together and I learned a lot from that experience in terms of operating with a strict time frame.
I’ve submitted my MAP selections (ranking of my top 10 most preferred projects) so it’ll be great to find out which project will be mine in a few weeks. From what I hear, it’s really what you make of it, so I’m just hoping for cool teammates and a fun location. I’m really hoping for a MAP that works with a start-up company in Europe. I’ve also applied for a 3-week study abroad course in Germany for May. That’ll be another great opportunity.
Highlights:
- Getting back in the swing of things
- Close listed for some companies for interviews
- Leadership Crisis Challenge
Lowlights:
- Lots of time-intensive projects
Things I’m looking forward to:
- Interviewing, or rather, being finished with the interviews (same from last blog)
- Finding out my MAP assignment
- Spring break at the end of February
Posted by amyhuang at 11:24 PM | Comments (0)
January 10, 2008
It's Winter, Sort Of
We’ve had a fair amount of snow already this year, but the temperature topped out at 60 degrees a few days ago – a couple of my friends actually went to hit golf balls (yes, in January in Michigan). I’m not banking on many more days like that.
Anyway, we just finished our first week of classes, and this is gearing up to be a very interesting quarter – all 3 of the courses I am taking (Management Accounting, Operations Management, and Valuation) are case-based, which is a format that I have enjoyed, though one that certainly requires a lot of pre-class preparation. Once again, I’m very impressed with my professors, and I’m enjoying the material. Accounting and Operations are core courses, and it seems like we will really get a chance to take the tools we have learned, apply them to the cases, and practice decision-making. It will be another challenging semester as we continue to build on the fundamentals and prepare for our MAP assignments.
Speaking of which, the list of MAP projects was released, so all first year MBAs are now in the process of ranking our top 10 choices. The projects do not disappoint – there is everything from developing market entry or marketing strategies to performing carbon footprint analyses. The project location could anywhere from here in Ann Arbor to as far away as China. MAP should be an incredible learning experience, and I am having trouble deciding how to rank my project preferences.
On the recruiting front, most of my classmates and I returned to Ann Arbor last week prior to the start of classes to practice for on-campus interviews, many of which will take place over the next several weeks. Everyone is feeling the pressure, but there will be some very happy students as early as next week – the investment banks make their summer hiring decision quickly and make offers to students within a day or two of the interviews.
Final note about the football season (well, maybe) – Michigan emerged victorious over a favored Florida team ranked 12th in the country. It was an exciting, high-scoring game, and one that will hopefully put the team on the right track for next season. A bunch of our best players are not returning, but we have a new coach and a lot of momentum. Go Blue!
Posted by leahyt at 06:53 PM | Comments (0)
Winter Break was a great chance to get away and relax for a while. I spent time snowboarding in Vermont, back home with family in Upstate New York, and then New Year’s with friends in New York City. I think that I say this in every blog, but I cannot believe how quick things are going. Maybe it is because I was on the move so much during Winter Break, but it felt like it was over in two-seconds. The next time that I am going to be able to take a breath is Spring Break. I just bought a plane ticket yesterday to go out to Colorado with a group from Ross. The best part about Spring Break is that Summer Internship interviews will be over and we can relax!
The Summer Internship interview process is in full swing. Resume drops started during Winter Break and continue for the next couple of weeks. The first rounds of interviews start next Friday and then go until February. I know that there are a lot of nerves, but there are so many different opportunities available that I know something will work out for everyone. I am still waiting to hear back about a majority of interviews. Everyone talks about how intense Winter A is with interviews, but I do not think that anything can truly prepare you. It is the first time that the vibe at Ross has been a little bit tense, but at the same time people are cheering for each other.
The classes this quarter are great so far, which to be honest I was not expecting. The core classes are Operations and Management Accounting, both subjects that I was not excited about, but the professors are energetic and make the material interesting. And with interviews I am seeing a lot of relevance to what we are learning and what I want to do post-Ross. In addition to the core, I am taking Consumer Behavior as an elective.
MAP selections are due on Sunday night. I still need to go through every project and put together my rankings, but an initial glance shows some interesting projects with a lot of international opportunities in a variety of locations. The one thing that all the projects have in common is that they seem to be substantial engagements for the teams to undertake. I will be sure to let you know where I end up going!
Posted by cmkohl at 04:06 PM | Comments (0)
Tauber Project Presentations
It is hard to believe that my first MBA semester is in the books! Time definitely went by a lot quicker than what I expected it to, but I feel like I covered so much ground that it feels like a long time as well. In any case, FALL 2007 done and it is now time to start with what I’ve been told is a crazy and stressful time for MBA students. For this Fall A term I have signed up for Accounting (core), Topics in Operations (Tauber core), Lean Manufacturing (at the College of Engineering) and Finance 615 (Valuations). On top of this I have to prepare for presentations from the companies that are sponsoring Tauber projects. This is where my experience as a Tauber student differs from the rest of my fellow MBAs. Through Tabuer companies sponsor projects that have a business and engineering topic that they would like a team of 2-4 students to look at. Companies then come to campus and make presentations about their company (very similar to regular corporate presentations) and about the specifics issues surrounding the project they are sponsoring. Today Alcoa, the first company to present, gave us an idea of the types of problems they are having internally and laid out what they expect from the Engineering/Business team. These presentations are also a great networking event where we get to talk to company executives and meet some of the actual people who will be “championing” the projects. It is very important that we make a good impression with these people so that we are placed on their “closed list”, where they invite you to interview with them for the project. Once you have seen all the project presentations (and hopefully secured some closed-list spots on projects you really like) you have to interview with the companies so that they get a chance to select the candidates they like the most for their projects. There are two ways you can secure interview spots: the first is to get closed-listed based on your interaction with recruiters, and secondly you can bid for open slots. The second option is exactly the same as for the regular MBA recruiting process except that we only bid on a limited number of projects. Once you have interviewed for about 4-5 projects (one company can have several projects) you rank your top three and companies rank the top candidates they want for each project. All the information is then fed into a computer and you are assigned to a project. The algorithm is supposed to try to match you with the project you like the most and tries to give companies the candidates they have ranked highest.
Having read most of the project descriptions and having listened to the first presentation, I can definitely say that the projects will be very challenging. Also, I have no doubt that my summer experience will be a great one thanks to Ross and the Tauber Institute.
Posted by jolaiz at 01:44 AM | Comments (0)
January 06, 2008
Exciting New Year
The New Year is here and with it a lot of excitement and a busy first few weeks. I went to Brazil over break and spent Christmas and New Years with my family and friends down there. The weather was perfect, sunny and hot. I got back to Ann Arbor on January 3rd to snow and below 0 F temperatures, which was quite a shock!
Interview closed lists came out over the break, and the interviews start on January 14th. The deadline is coming up fast and it is very important to secure that investment banking internship. I did pretty well as far as the closed lists go, getting in all my top choices. The very demanding travel schedule last quarter paid off, and I think I am in a good position to secure a summer job. The downside to that though, is that my grades suffered. I didn’t do as well as I wished in my classes, but all in all think that I got what I needed out of them. In a way I think I brought it upon myself, because I was taking two of the most demanding electives (Valuation and Options & Futures) as well as two core courses (Marketing and MO), and at the same time was travelling to visit banks almost every weekend.
For the one closed list that I wanted to be on but didn’t get, I can still use my bid points to get on. The Ross interview bidding process is very interesting. Everyone starts out with 1,000 points and you get charged 50 points for every closed list invitation you accept. The points you have left, you can use to bid for closed lists you didn’t get invited to. From what I’ve heard, I should have enough to get on another closed list and still have some left over for a rainy day (in case I don’t get an Investment Banking offer and have to try for corporate finance or something else).
Classes start on Monday the 7th, but I came back early to attend the Training the Street seminar organized by the Ross Finance Club. Training the Street is a crash course on valuation, LBO and M&A analysis that was very helpful to prepare for interviews. It was a full day of class, but I am very glad I came back for it. The course was a great interview prep primer, and the rest of this week I will be busy doing mock interviews and preparing for technical and fit questions.
Most interviews are going to be on the week of January 14th. The way the interviews work is that you have first rounds during the day, second rounds usually the same night, and know if you’re getting an offer by the same night. It’s a quick process, which is good because I’m sure the anxiety will be running very high.
In addition to interviews, next week will also be the deadline for MAP submissions. There are a lot of very interesting projects this year and I will have a tough time ranking just 10. This is shaping up to be a very exciting semester. If everything goes as planned, I may have a summer job offer by the next time I write!
Posted by jtlynch at 06:54 PM | Comments (0)
January 05, 2008
Winter Semester
Winter Semester
Break is over and its time for the winter semester to begin. I had a very relaxing break and I am excited to enter into this new semester. The fall semester went very well for me and I look forward to achieving the same success this time around. There is a lot that happens in the Winter semester and here are the things that I am looking forward to.
Classes
During Winter A I will be taking Operations, Managerial Accounting, Advanced Excel, and Consumer Behavior. I am really looking forward to the Consumer Behavior class since I love Marketing and since my career focus is to develop new consumer technology products. I am also looking forward to the Excel class so that I can improve my Excel skills before my summer internship.
Recruiting
All of the hard work from the Fall semester will pay off this term once I start interviewing. I still plan to interview with seven companies for roles in High-Tech Marketing and Human Resources. Over the break I spent a lot of time preparing cover letters and applying for positions. The way the interview process works here is kind of complicated. So basically, you apply for a position. Then if a company likes your resume and see a fit, they can select or ‘close list’ you for an interview. If you do not get on the closed list then you can bid for an interview slot, very similar to an auction. If you bid enough points then you will be able to get on the interview schedule. It is my hope that I get closed list on many of my interviews, but we will see.
I am also preparing for the interviews by doing a lot of company research to know the company trends, strategy, and history. Basically I need to know the companies inside and out. Also, I am working on my stories and practicing through mock interviews. The support that I have received from the career services office and my classmates has been phenomenal. Everyone has been so helpful to make sure that I am successful on my interviews. My first interview is on the 16th so I will keep you updated on that in my next blog.
MAP
MAP is during Winter B. The project listing has come out for MAP. There are a lot of cool international and domestic projects. We have to select 10 projects and we will be assigned a project and team. I will find out the project close to the end of January.
Clubs
There are a lot of things going on with my clubs this term. First, the High-Tech Club is having a conference focusing on Digital Technology on January 25th. The BBSA is having a conference as well during the same week. Also, I was selected as a Board Fellow for a non-profit organization. In this role I will serve as a non-voting board member for the Girls on the Run Organization. I will be assigned a project that will help the organization grow over the next year. I am really excited about working with this group. I cannot say how overjoyed I am about the opportunities that I have at Ross for leadership through clubs.
Case Competitions
I am going to enter into a couple of more case competitions this term. It’s a great way to practice and learn how to solve tough issues with my classmates. The first is the Ross Leadership Crisis Challenge. This competition is on January 11th. The details are to come, but it should be a good experience.
So as you can see there is a lot to keep me busy in this semester. But, it should be a good semester. I will keep you updated on things throughout.
Posted by alantria at 08:38 AM | Comments (0)